Scrap chopper for edge trimming shears



May 20, 1941. J. c. HOLDGATE ETAL SCRAP CHOPPER FOR EDGE TRIMMING SHEARSFiled May 15, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 d F. 0A wwmwm TOMA m fi W wm ,mWw JM M a E May 20, 1941. J. c. HOLDGATE ETAL 2,242,887

SCRAP CHOPPER FOR EDGE TRIMMING SHEARS Filed May 15, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet2 May 20, 1941,- Jic. HOLDGATE EI'AL SCRAP CHOPPER FOR EDGE TRIMMINGSHEARS Filed May 15, 1939 5 Sheets- Sheet 3 afe John (1 Ho/ m M/M y .1;c. HOLDGATE ETAL 2,887

SCRAP CHOPPER FOR EDGE TRIMMING sHEARs' Filed May 15, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Inn May 20, 1941. J. c. HOLDGATE ETIfAL SCRAP CHOPPER FOREDGE TRIMMING SHEARS Filed May 15, 1939 5 Sheetsi-Sheet s l NVEISTO RSdo/m C. Ho/ogafe Patented May 20, 1941 2,242,887 SCRAP CHOPPER FOB EDGETRIMMING SHEABS John C. Holdgate, William P. Donald, and Donald A.McArthur, Warren, Ohio, assignors to The Wean Engineering Company,Warren, Ohio, a

- corporation of Ohio Application May 15, 1939, Serial No. 213,696

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a shear for cutting into short lengths theportions trimmed from the edges of strip as the latter is sheared tospecified width.

Shears have been known heretofore for cutting the edge portions removedfrom strip as it is slit to size but have been characterized by numerousobjections. In the first place, it has been found necessary to changethe shear knives frequently and re-grind them before further use. Thecooperating cutting edges of prior shears, furthermore, have not been sodisposed as to produce the best cutting action. Further problems arepresented by the necessity for handling greater and greater widths ofstrip, as the apparatus used heretofore has not been applicable with theutmost satisfaction tothe handling of maximum widths of strip.

We have invented a shear for chopping into lengths the ribbon of scrapproduced when strip is sheared to width, which avoids the aforementionedobjections and is characterized by further features of marked advantagewhich will be referred to more fully in the subsequent detaileddescription.

Briefly stated, our invention comprises a rotary knife holder journaledin suitable bearings having shear blades mounted thereon for cooperationwith relatively fixed shear blades. The scrap chopper is locatedadjacent the edge trimmin shear and is preferably driven by the samepower source as the latter. The entire scrap chopping mechanism ismounted for movement in a direction perpendicular to the travel of thestrip being sheared, whereby different portions of the cooperatingcutting edges may be successively presented to the scrap ribbons, thusprolonging the period of satisfactory service between re-grindings.

The followin detailed description of the invention briefly outlinedabove refers to the accompanying drawings for an illustration of atypical embodiment thereof. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the edge trimming shear and scrap chopper,parts being omitted for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the scrap chopper showing the edgetrimming shear as well;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the scrap chopper itself, to enlarged scale,showing parts only of the edge trimming shear;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section along theline IV-IV of Fig. 3, showin the scrap chopper apart from the edgetrimming shear;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the edge trimming shearand scrap chopper taken substantially along the plane of line V-V ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the same 'plane as Fig.5, showing a portion of the latter to enlarged scale; and

Fig. 'l is a sectional view through the edge trimming shear along theplane of line VII-VII of Fig. 5, showing the scrap chopper in plan.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the edge trimming shear isindicated generally in Fig. 1 at l0 and the scrap chopper at H. Both aremounted on a common fabricated base l2 which may be secured to anysuitable foundation (not shown). Both the edge trimming shear and thescrap chopper, furthermore, are driven by the same power source, viz., amotor I3 mounted on the base l2.

The edge trimming shear l0 comprises principally a pair of housings l4and I5 slidably supported on transverse rails l6 secured to the base l2.The housings I4 and 15 maybe adjusted toward or from the center-line ofthe strip being trimmed (indicated in dotted lines at S, Fig. 7) by atransverse screw shaft ll (Fig. 5). This shaft has right and left handthreads adjacent opposite ends which traverse nuts l8 secured to thebottoms of the housings. A motor l9 mounted on the base I2 is adapted todrive the shaft ll through a speed-reducing gear 28. The shaft I! mayalso be operated manually by a hand wheel 2| on a shaft 22. The shaft 22is journaled in bearings 23 on the base l2 and is adapted to beconnected by a clutch 24 to the high speed shaft of the reducer 20.

Each of the housings I4 and I5 is provided with upper and lower diskcutters 25 and 25. The disk cutters are mounted on arbors 21 journaledin bearings mounted in the housings. The bearings 26a (Fig. 7),supporting the arbors on which the cutters 26 are mounted, are fixedvertically, resting on shims whereby the desired elevation is obtained.but may be adiusted laterally by screws 21a. The hearings on which thearbors supporting the cutters 25 are journaled may be adjustedvertically by means of screw-downs 2B operated manually by hand-wheels29. The cut ters 25 and 25 are removably mounted on their respectivearbors to facilitate re-grinding.'

The motor l3 drives the arbors 21 through a speed-reducing gearing 30and a drive shaft 3| journaled in bearings 32 mounted on the base l2.Gears 33 splined on the shaft 3i drive pinions 24 on their lower arbors21. The gears 33 also mesh l The rotors 52, fitting tongue and slotportions locking them to- 1 getherfor rotation as a unit. Either rotor,howi ever, may be removed independently of the other.

with similar gears on shafts 33a journaled in the housings l4 and I5.The gears on the shaft 33a mesh with pinions on the upper arbors 21simliar to the pinions 34. t The maximum vertical adjustment of theupper arbors 21 required to maintain the cutters 25 and 26 in propercooperative relation is quite small so it does not materially affect themeshing of the driving gears. As shown in Fig. 5, the shafts 33a arefixed and do not move with the bearings supporting the upper arbors.

' the latter relative Pinch rolls 35 on the entrance side of the edgetrimming shear are journaled in arms 36 pivoted on standards 31 securedto the base l2. The rolls 35 are of suitable composition, i. e., felt orflannel, and comprises a shell formed on a central bar or shaft of metalwhich provides journals for the rolls. adjusted by screw shafts 38journaled in suitable bearings on the standards 31. The shafts 38 arethreaded through nuts movably mounted in the ends of crank arms 38secured to the lower arms 36. The upper arms 36 are constantly urgeddownwardly by an adjustable spring abutment of known type indicatedgenerally at 48. The rolls 35 are geared together as at 35a (Fig. 1) andare driven by the motor l3 through an infinitely variable speed-reducer36a and universal joints 31a. The speed-reducer 36a is connected to thehigh speed shaft of the reducer 30 by a chain drive 38a. The infinitelyvariable reducer 36a permits the speed of the pinch rolls to be socontrolled relative to the speed of the knives 25 and, so that theperipheral speed of both is the same regardless of changes in thediameter of pinch rolls and edge trimming cutters.

The strip to be trimmed is confined as it'passes through the trimmingshear, between upper and lower guide rails 4| and 42 as shown in Fig. 5.These parts are omitted from Figs. 1 and 2, for clearness. The upperguide rails 4| are supported on cross bars 43 extending between thehousings I4 and I5 and releasably secured thereto when the housings havebeen properly adjusted relative to the center-line of the strip. Thelower rails 42 are secured to angle bars 44 supported on the base I2.

Scrap chutes 45 are mounted on the housings l4 and I5 and extendforwardly and downwardly from the nips of the cutters 25 and 26. Whenproperly started, the ribbons trimmed from the edges of the strip aredeflected downwardly by the chutes 45 to the scrap chopper ll while thestrip itself moves on over an apron plate 46 and a guide roll 4'!carried on the scrap chopper.

The scrap chopper H comprises a main bladeholding casting 48 dove-tailedto and slidable on a guide block 49 secured to the base I 2. Fixed shearblades 50 are secured to the casting 48 by bolts 5|, being adjustedhorizontally thereof by' shims 58a.

Rotors 52 having shear blades 53 secured thereto by bolts 54 arejournaled in bearings 55 (Fig. 4) mounted in housings 56 and 51 formedin the casting 48. The bearings 55 are of the tapered roller type andare adjustable in the known manner to maintain a constant runningclearance so The lower arms 36 may be angularly steadily forward thatthe desired clearance between the edges of the fixed and rotary shearblades may be obtained at all times. despite wear in the bearings.

at their inner ends, have interouter end of each rotor 52.

The rotors ,52 are driven by a shaft 60. A pulley 6| has sleeves 62'joumaled in bearings 63 on the base l2 and the sleeves 62 are splined tothe shaft 68, thus permitting axial movement of to the bearings 63. Thepulley 6| is driven by V-belts 64 from a pulley on the shaft of motorl3.

A speed-reducer 65 has a slow-speed shaft provided'with a crank disk 66.The reducer 65 is driven through a chain and sprocket drive 61 by amotor 61a. A pitman 68 is pivoted to the casting 48 and to a block 68adjustable radially on the disk 66 by a screw I8.

By virtue of the construction the scrap chopper as a whole may bereciprocated slowly along the guide block 49 by operating the motor 61a.

The operation of the apparatus described in detail above requires littlefurther explanation. The strip to be trimmed is fed between the guiderolls 35 and the rails 4| and 42. The edge portions thereof are shearedoff by the cooperation of the cutters 25 and 26 and guided downwardly bythe chutes 45 to the fixed blades 58. The rotor blades 53, being drivencounter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, sever the ribbons of scrapinto short lengths which can be conveniently disposed of. The remainderof the strip moves over the apron plate 46 and guide roll 41.

The motor 61a may be controlled in any convenient manner. It may beoperated under manual control or bysuitable means, may be caused tostart when the edge trimming cutters are advantageous for the reasonthat if it is attempted to shift the chopper blades longitudinally whilestrip is being trimmed, there is a tendency for the roller 41 to shiftthe strip out of its nor-. mal path.

The invention is characterized by numerous advantages over'similarapparatus as known heretofore. Among these advantages is the fact thatthe edges of the knives 50 and 53 engage at an angle such that thecutting surfaces are actually parallel which is the ideal relation forclean shearing and is similar to the action of the ordinary guillotineshear. At the same time, the arrangement of the blades is such that therear edges of the rotor blades have ample clearance relative to theouter edge of the fixed blade. All the blades are accurately rectangularin section so they may be ground on all four edges and reversed when oneedge is worn.

As already stated, the slow reciprocation of the scrap choppertransversely of the direction of movement ofthe strip also prolongs theperiod of service obtainable from the blades between regrindings. Inactual operation, the scrap chopper disclosed herein has workedsatisfactorily for two or three weeks without requiring any grinding orthe reversal of a single blade, whereas it was formerly common practicetogrind or reverse the blades every eight hours or even every fourhours. The reduction in the frequency of re-grinding which isaccomplished by the invenjust described,

ma s? tion is the result of the angular relation of the surfaces of thecutting blades and the reciprocation thereof across the line or travelof the strip.

. A further advantage of the invention is the arises from the fact thatthe rotors are driven by the same power source as the edge trimmingshears. By this arrangement, the rotors operate only when the edgetrimming shears are functioning. This avoids the undesirable resultswhich have heretofore been experienced from the continued operation of ascrap chopper after stopping the edge trimming shears, i. e., thetendency of the continued impact of the chopper blades on the end of thescrap ribbon to tear the latter from the main body of the strip.

The use of a belt drive is a further advantage since it permits slippagein case the rotor blades should engage the scrap ribbons on starting up,before attaining sumcient momentum to insure a clean cut. Thispermissive slipping avoids excessive stresses which would result if therotors were positively driven.

In addition to the foregoing advantages, the apparatus disclosed isrelatively simple in construction, highly efllcient in operation, andrequires only routine maintenance to assure a long useful life.

Although we have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it will be recognized that changes in the constructionillustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims. We claim:

1. Apparatus for shearing to length a plurality of strips comprising arelatively stationary blade holder, a pair of axially alined rotorsjournaled in bearings in said blade holder, a separable drivingconnection between said rotors, a cutting blade secured in said holder,and a cooperating cutting blade secured in one of said rotors.

2. Apparatus for shearing to length a plurality of strips comprising arelatively stationary blade holder, a pair of axially alined rotors, apair of bearings in said holder for rotatably supporting each rotor, aseparable driving connection between said rotors, a cutting bladesecured in said holder, and a cooperating cutting blade secured in oneof said rotors.

3. Apparatus for use with an edge-trimming shear including rotarycutters for removing the edges of a traveling strip and a motor fordriving the cutters, said apparatus comprising a relatively fixed shearblade extending transversely ofthe path of the strip, a rotary shearblade cooperating with said relatively fixed blade, common mountingmeans for said blades, means for adjusting said mounting meanstransversely of said path, a member on said mounting means over whichthe trimmed strip passes and a second motor for driving said adjustingmeans whereby the latter may be actuated when the edge-trimming shear isstopped.

JOHN C. HOLDGATE. WILLIAM P. DONALD. DONALD A. MCARTHUR.

